All eyes have been on him.
Kendrick Lamar introduced his Drake diss monitor “Not Like Us” to the 2025 Tremendous Bowl halftime present — however made one massive and telling change to the tune’s lyrics.
Taking the sector on the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, Lamar, 37, elated followers when he carried out the tune that has come to outline his feud with Drizzy, 38, in the course of the present.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper teased the tune all through the efficiency, saving it for the top of his time on the sector.
“I want to play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” Okay-Dot spat at one level, undoubtedly alluding to Drake’s authorized actions in opposition to their shared document label, Common Music Group.
When Lamar lastly carried out a portion of “Not Like Us,” which accuses his Canadian rival of being a “pedophile,” he altered the lyrics by eradicating the phrase altogether.
As an alternative of spitting “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles,” Lamar went silent on the half the place he would usually rap “pedophile.”
The lyric additionally nreferences Drake’s 2021 album “Certified Lover Boy.”
And although Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” efficiency omitted the rapper’s most blunt accusation in opposition to Drizzy, Okay-Dot nonetheless bought his message throughout as he served two of the tune’s different brutal bars: “Say, Drake, I hear you like ‘em young / You better not ever go to cell block one.”
He then rapped, “Why you trollin’ like a …,” leaving out the phrase, “b–ch?,” earlier than including, “Ain’t you tired? / Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor.”
The road “A minor” undoubtedly struck a chord with the group, who chanted alongside loudly.
As deliberate, SZA joined Kendrick’s efficiency, singing their 2018 Grammy, Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated hit from the “Black Panther” soundtrack, “All the Stars,” and “luther.”
There was, nonetheless, one surprising visitor on the halftime present stage on Sunday: none aside from Drake’s ex, tennis legend Serena Williams.
Sunday’s efficiency was by far essentially the most high-profile stay rendition of “Not Like Us,” with greater than 80,000 in attendance on the Tremendous Bowl and certain over 100 million watching the very public airing of rap drama at dwelling.
Lamar spat the diss simply days after taking dwelling 5 Grammys for “Not Like Us,” together with Document of the Yr and Tune of the Yr.
Within the lead-up to the Kansas Metropolis Chief’s face-off with the Philadelphia Eagles, Lamar stored mum about whether or not the diss monitor would make it into his halftime present setlist.
On the Apple Music Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present press convention on Thursday, Lamar would solely say that he would ship loads of “storytelling.”
Lamar and the present’s producers tipped their hand although by taking part in “Not Like Us” as he was launched on the high of the presser.
The day earlier than, TMZ reported that the “Humble” rapper would carry out the Drake diss at halftime.
The choice was significantly weighty on condition that Drake has sued his personal document label, UMG — which additionally reps Lamar — for defamation and harassment as a result of they launched and promoted “Not Like Us.”
Religion Moran / BACKGRID
Together with the scathing lyrics all through “Not Like Us,” the one’s cowl artwork additionally takes a jab at Drake. That includes a chook’s-eye view of his Toronto property, the picture has been manipulated to resemble a intercourse offender registry map.
“Not Like Us” was one among 2024’s largest hits, spending two non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Scorching 100 after its Could 4 launch.
Lamar was introduced because the 2025 Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present headliner in Sept. 2024.
In a press release launched on the time confirming the information, the “King Kunta” rapper appeared to take a swipe at Drake.
“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one,” Lamar mentioned, per Billboard.
The LA native beforehand carried out on the 2022 Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present, which was devoted to celebrating hip-hop. He joined the likes of Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Mary J. Blige at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Lamar’s 2025 efficiency follows Usher’s halftime present on the 2024 Tremendous Bowl.
